Photograph of Wardrobe Supervisor Lorna McNab and ladies' costume assistants making costumes for Love's Labours Lost (1977) by Derek BalmerBristol Old Vic
At Bristol Old Vic, designers and makers have been crafting incredible costumes for over 250 years.
Photograph of Wardrobe department making costumes for Love's Labours Lost (1977) by Derek BalmerBristol Old Vic
In the summer of 2020 we offered young people across Bristol the chance to follow in their footsteps.
All they had to do was send us their best costume design, inspired by an image from our archive.
Our budding designers were inspired by these incredible images from the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.
Costume competition entries (2021) by Chelsey CliffBristol Old Vic
Award winning designer Katie Sykes (Jane Eyre, National Theatre) had the difficult task of choosing three winners from over a hundred amazing entries.
She selected Clemence’s nature inspired Titania, Logan’s hip-hop Long John Silver and Joyce’s runway ready Cinderella.
Costume design for Titania (2021) by Clemence CorpBristol Old Vic
“Hand in hand, with fairy grace"
Seven-year-old Clemence’s take on Titania from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream was inspired by her love of nature.
Her favourite birds and flowers adorn Titania's dress and wings.
Costume design for Long John Silver (2021) by Logan HodgeBristol Old Vic
“I’m cap’n here"
Nine-year-old Logan designed a hip hop inspired costume for the fearsome pirate Long John Silver from Robert Lewis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
His traditional tricorn hat and doublet have been swapped for a baseball cap and football shirt.
Costume design for Cinderella (2021) by Joyce WeiBristol Old Vic
“You shall go to the ball…”
Sixteen-year-old Joyce’s Cinderella has traded royal balls for fashion week, although her pumpkin handbag and rococo inspired coat hint at the story’s origins.
Photograph of Long John Silver (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Costumes are designed to be worn, so we teamed up with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School to take our winning designs from page to stage.
Makers Evie, Summer, Maddi and Laura worked closely with Clemence, Logan and Joyce to bring their sketches to life.
Photograph of Titania (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Maker Summer Maria York used over a kilometre of tulle to make Titania's dress.
Photograph of Titania (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Photograph of Cinderella (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Makers Laura Pogose and Madi Barnicoat were tasked with bringing Joyce’s ‘mythical, magical, modern’ design to life.
Photograph of Cinderella (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Photograph of Long John Silver (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Maker Evie Ackerman worked with a local tattoo artist to create Long John Silver's intricate inkings.
Photograph of Long John Silver (2021) by Khris CowleyBristol Old Vic
Photograph of mannequins in the Wardrobe department (2003) by UnknownBristol Old Vic
The finished costumes now take pride of place in our front of house space, where they delight thousands of visitors each week.
One of the first people to be delighted by our costumes was Clemence, Titania's designer. Watch her reaction to seeing her finished costume for the first time.
With thanks to Katie Sykes, Jill Blundell, Ali Poynter, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. All our heritage work is made possible thanks to National Lottery Players.
